Global Internet shutdown for 48 hours? Not really

Over the last 24 hours, the web and social media platforms are rife with reports of a 48-hour global Internet shutdown. The truth, however, is far from it.

Here’s a quick summary of what you need to know about the alleged shutdown and how it affects you.

# ICANN is changing the cryptographic key that protects Internet’s address book or Domain Name System (DNS).

# The change involves a rollover of the Root Zone KSK (Key Signing Key), which was last done in 2010.

# The process, in a nutshell, will make the Internet more secure and help curb cyber attacks.

# All major network operators and ISPs have known about this change for a long time. If they have taken the recommended steps, their users won’t be impacted.

# ICANN expects less than 1 percent of Internet users, primarily with inactive service providers, to be affected.

# The rollover completed at 9:30 pm (IST) on October 11 and no major issues have been reported since then.

# If your Internet is working now, its because your service provider has done what was required and you can safely ignore click-bait headlines about ‘global shutdown’.

Those who wish to follow official updates about the change or learn more about the Root Zone KSK rollover can do so from ICANN’s website.